Vehicle Tracking Systems and Methods

Abstract

A vehicle service facility may include an RFID transmitter-receiver. The RFID transmitter-receiver may include at least one RFID antenna. The RFID transmitter-receiver may further include an RFID reader. The vehicle service facility may also include a computer system, the computer system having a programmable processor such as a microprocessor or a microcontroller and processor-readable or computer-readable programming code embodying logic embedded on tangible, non-transitory computer readable media. The computer system is in data communication with the RFID reader.

1 . A method comprising:
 detecting an RFID tag with a vehicle intake bay entry antenna;   determining if the RFID tag is associated with a loaner vehicle, a vehicle having a scheduled appointment or a vehicle associated with a walk-in customer; and   if the RFID tag is associated with a vehicle having a scheduled appointment or a vehicle associated with a walk-in customer, generating a sales lead.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after the step of detecting the RFID tag, the method further comprises displaying a greeting screen, the greeting screen including a customer name. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the greeting screen further includes a vehicle service facility name banner, a service suggestion, an advertisement banner, a vehicle year and model, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is associated with a vehicle having a scheduled appointment, the method further comprising, prior to the step of detecting an RFID tag, adding a service appointment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of adding a service appointment comprises:
 determining whether a customer is an existing customer in a service customer database; and   associating a service appointment with a customer profile in the service customer database.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising after the step of adding a service appointment:
 sending an appointment reminder to the customer. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of sending an appointment reminder to the customer comprises emailing, text messaging, mailing or calling the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is associated with a vehicle having a scheduled appointment, the method further comprising notifying a service advisor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising generating a lead for a salesperson. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of generating a lead for the salesperson comprises:
 triggering a sales lead;   adding the sales lead; and   managing the sales lead.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of generating a lead for the sales person further comprises notifying the salesperson. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of triggering a sales lead includes evaluating the sales lead. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sales lead is evaluated using a rules engine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of adding the sales lead includes communicating the sales lead to the dealership. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of managing the sales lead further comprises assigning the sales lead.